Cox helps lead Londonderry boys basketball to win over Salem

LONDONDERRY - It was close early, and then it wasn’t close at all, as a massive game from Jackson Cox led the Londonderry High School boys basketball team to a 76-46 win over Salem to pick up a sweep of the teams’ two-game series this week.

Cox pumped in 29 points and had six rebounds, six steals and four assists.

“I was getting open shots in the offense,” Cox said. “I was able to get some in the hoop early, and that was able to help me throughout the game.”

Cox had 11 points in the first quarter as the Lancers finished the period up 14-13. Londonderry (3-2) poured it on in the second and went into halftime up 36-25 and never looked back.

Cox was stellar, and the rest of the Lancer squad contributed on both ends of the floor against the Blue Devils (0-5).

All 13 players that touched the floor contributed whether it be points, rebounds or in some other fashion. Freshman guard Tyler Brown came off the bench and had an 11-point, five-rebound game.

Zachary Fawcett and Nicholas Pao each had seven points. Tyler Miles had four points, four boards, and an assist. The production was infectious for the Lancers.

“Tryouts were tough,” Londonderry coach Nate Stanton said. “I kept 16 guys. I’ve never done that before. It’s probably the deepest I’ve been in eight years. I’m excited for this group. I feel like I can go to anyone at any time. I love guys coming off the bench and being a spark. They’re really coming together.”

The Lancers found ways to create points off of turnovers. The Blue Devils turned the ball over 15 times, but eight of those came as a result of Londonderry steals. In transition, the Lancers punished Salem throughout the game.

“We game plan that,” Cox said. “One of our practices this week was defense an hour, hour and a half straight. We rotate together, we talk together. It’s great. It’s a whole lot of fun. I love it.”

Salem started well, and led for stretches of the first quarter, but the Lancer depth was too much. The Blue Devils got 16 and 13 points from Adan Ayala and Kaleb Bates, respectively. Matthew McCloskey had seven points and a game-high nine rebounds.

“We’re about a month into the season and we’re starting to put it together,” Stanton said. “We have a lot of work to do, don’t get me wrong, but we’re going in the right direction.”

Cox, one of six seniors on the squad, said that just being able to play has been an anchor point in his life amid the pandemic.

“This season has really meant a lot with school being crazy,” Cox said. “You don’t know if you’re going in. You’re out for a month and a half or something; it’s just great to have something set in place, something that works every single day.”